Hope Has a Sound: Fabio Tedde aka Pianist Without Borders Plays Soho’s Colourful New Street Piano | My Soho Times

Marking the first International Day of Hope with music that brings us together

In a world that often feels fractured, music reminds us of what connects us. On Sunday 13 July, a colourful new street piano appeared in the heart of Soho, tucked into the courtyard of Carnaby Street’s Kingly Court. Designed by artist Yinka Ilori in partnership with Sing for Hope and The Global Goals, the piano is part of the #BeHope campaign launched to mark the first-ever International Day of Hope.

Playing the role of more than a striking installation, the piano is an open invitation to pause, reflect and take part in a global movement rooted in optimism and action. It stands for the pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals—People, Planet, Peace—and for the belief that hope, when shared, can inspire meaningful change.

We were introduced to this special piano not through the official launch, but through a spontaneous invitation from someone who’s made public music his life’s mission: Fabio Tedde, better known as Pianist Without Borders. Editor Kai Lutterodt shares more.

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Hope Has a Soundtrack

I had just attended a very suave afternoon tea in Windsor to celebrate my cousin’s engagement, and was heading back into Central London when I received a text from Fabio Tedde. Knowing him, I half-thought he’d spotted me on the Elizabeth Line as I passed Bond Street. It’s happened before — I’ve heard his music before seeing him. But this time, he told me he was in Kingly Court. A new street piano had arrived.

By the time I arrived, Fabio was already at the keys. His improvised piece echoed through the courtyard, drawing a small crowd of curious onlookers. Some paused for a moment, others lingered longer. The music felt intimate and expansive all at once — a reminder that beauty and connection can still be found in unexpected places. CLICK HERE for the IG reel.

I’ve known Fabio for nearly a decade. We first met at the Afropolitanism and the Black Blogosphere event held at UAL (University of the Arts London), in the Spring of 2016. As I queued to have my book signed by the author Christelle Kedi, I couldn’t help but wonder what this white Sardinian guy was doing in a space centred on Black voices. True to the open and friendly spirit I’ve since come to associate with him, he struck up a conversation with me as we waited – he was there to support his friend, whose event it was. That same evening, he introduced me to his wonderful world of street piano playing with a trip to Kings Cross station.

It turned out his passion for culture and connection ran deep. He had already travelled extensively through West Africa. He was planning an ambitious project: to take a piano across East Africa, performing free concerts in villages and communities often overlooked by mainstream music tours. I was so inspired that later that year, I volunteered to document the “Thumbs Up for Uganda” project (we also visited Kenya), and a lasting friendship was born.

Fabio has now played more than 1,100 public pianos across Europe, Africa and the USA. From King’s Cross station — where he once tried (unsuccessfully) to teach me a few chords — to a vibrant jam session in Mombasa, our paths have crossed in beautiful and unexpected ways. Along the way, I’ve met others through him, like Efe Ikeuseu, a young street pianist I nicknamed “The Wizz Kid” on my blog TravelmakerKai.com (currently in soft revamp mode).

What I admire most about Fabio is that he doesn’t just play music—he offers it. Each performance, whether in a grand station or tucked away in a courtyard, is shared freely with whoever happens to be there.

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Find the Piano, Feel the Hope

Soho has always been a place where creativity thrives and stories come alive. This piano, set within Kingly Court, adds a new note to that story.

If you’re passing by, stop. Listen. Play. Let it remind you — hope isn’t a luxury. It’s something we build, together, one small act at a time.

🔗 Learn more at globalgoals.org
🎼 Share what gives you hope: #BeHope
📍 Visit the piano at Kingly Court, Soho
🎹 Follow Fabio: @pianist_without_borders

Written by Kai Lutterodt @the.soho.girl

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